The Super Eagles are set to renew their rivalry with Russia when the sides meet in an international friendly at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The encounter, confirmed by FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodatasports, will be the second meeting between the two countries in 16 months.
Their previous encounter ended in a 1-1 draw at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium on June 6, 2025.
Russia took the lead in the first half after Nigeria defender Semi Ajayi scored an own goal. But the Super Eagles fought back after the interval, with Tolu Arokodare finding the equaliser.
Nigeria will head into the October fixture after a mixed run of results in recent international engagements.
Despite missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Super Eagles successfully defended their Afro-Caribbean Unity Cup title in London.
They also secured a 2-2 draw against Poland in Warsaw before suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal in Meira.
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The meeting with Russia will take place at the 44,000-capacity Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, one of the venues used during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The stadium previously hosted Russia’s 1-0 victory over Cyprus in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying fixture in June 2019.
In the current FIFA rankings, Nigeria occupies 26th position in the world, while Russia is ranked 35th.
The friendly has been scheduled shortly after Nigeria’s opening fixtures in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Super Eagles will begin their AFCON qualification bid against Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 25, before travelling to Bissau to face Guinea-Bissau’s Wild Dogs on September 29.
Nigeria will then face Russia in Nizhny Novgorod exactly one week after the Guinea-Bissau encounter, providing the team with another opportunity to test its strength against European opposition.
